Aug. 24, 2007

EASTON, Pa. - As the freshmen take a break from football to attend orientation, Lafayette College Athletic Communications staff talked with Rob Curley about what a difference a year makes and the upcoming game against Marist on Sept. 1.

As a sophomore, you can remember what it was like to be a freshman adjusting to a new team and football at the collegiate level. What was it like for you last year?

"I remember my first practice. I made a good move or something like that and I was like `This is going to be easy; I can play here.' Then they started going over protections and I was like `What am I doing here? There is no reason for me to be playing here. I can't even remember the snap count, let alone a play!' So that was definitely a tough transition."

What was the adjustment like outside of football practice?

"I went from high school to prep school. In high school I thought I was going to be going to college and getting free from all these rules. Prep school was so locked down and we had rigid times for everything. So when I got here, all I wanted to do was go to sleep."

What have you been telling the freshmen to make their transition to college easier?

"The biggest thing I've been telling the freshmen is that you've got to learn how to manage your time. You have to learn what's important, what you have to put time into and what you can get away with not doing."

How is practice different now that the freshmen are gone?

"I'm excited about getting more reps. All through camp everyone has been getting equal reps. So I'll take three plays and then I'll be off for 15 plays. Live reps are what help me the most. I can watch film, but it's different seeing it from a bird's eye view. So what I'm enjoying the most is the more reps - not the fact that my arm is getting sore, but you know."

Have you given much thought to the possibility of playing in the first game?

"I'm definitely excited about that, and a little nervous. I don't want to let myself get content with how I'm doing. I was watching an interview with the rookie tight end of the Eagles and he said that everyday you need to get better because if you don't you're going to go backwards. So I'm trying to improve on one little thing a day that can make me better quarterback - just going through the reads in my head, doing little things like that."

What is the team's attitude as you begin to prepare for Marist on Sept. 1?

"It's all about the countdown now. Today is the first day we've started preparing for Marist and everyone is definitely excited to give some new guys a taste of what we've got coming. Everyone is in really good shape right now and I think we're going to do some big things this year."

The upperclassmen will practice Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Fisher Stadium. All practices are open to the public.